Friction shock-absorbing mechanism



June 12, 1928. 1,673,371

J. F. OCONNOR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MEGHANISM Original Filed Jn- 2, 1 925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1` June 12, l928 1,673,371

JQ F. ocoNNoR FRICTION SHOCK ABSORBING MECHANISM Original Filed Jan' 2, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wfl@ Patented J une 12, 1928.

i UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINQEE, AQSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T0

W. H. MXNER, LENG., A CORPGRATIQJ OF DELAWARE. i

FRICTIDN SHCK-ABSEBING MEG'IANISM.

This invention relates to improvements in j friction shock absorbing mechanisms.

One object of the invention is to provide a `friction shock absorbing mechanism, especially adapted for railway draft riggings, wherein high capacity is obtainedy by a system of tandem arranged springs and friction wedge elements, together with a cri-operating friction column. n

Another object of' the invention is to provide a friction shock absorbing mechanism of the double ended type, including a floating friction column with which cooperates a plurality ofk spring resisted friction shoes having wedging engagement with wedge" pressure transmitting means at ends of the mechanism.

Other objects and advantages of 'the invention will more clearly and fully appear from the description and claims hereinafter following. j

In. the drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a horizontal, longitudinal, sectional view of a. portion of a the opposite railway draft rigging, showing my improvements in connection therewith. Figures 2 and 5l are vertical, sectional views corresponding respectively to the vlines 2"-2 and 23-3 of Figure 1. Figure 4 is a detailed, perspective view of one of the filler blocks used in connection with my improved mechanism. And .Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view of a spring compression bar. A

.ln said drawings, 101O indicate channelshaped draft or center sills of a railway car to the inner faces of which are secured front stop lugs 11--11 and rear stop lugs 12-12- The inner end portion of the drawbar is indicated at 13, to which is attached a hooded yoke 141 of well. known construction, within which the shock absorbing mechanism proper is disposed. The yoke and the movable parts of the draft rigging therewithin are supported by a detachable saddle plate 15.

The shock absorbing .mechanism proper comprises, broadly, front and rear follower casings A--A; al central friction column B; two pairs of friction shoes C-C; four filler blocks DMD; four spring compression bars 1li-E; tandem arranged spring resistance elements F-Fg a pair of spring follower plates (ir-G; and a. retainer bolt H.

The front and rear follower casings -A are of hollow rect-angular'form, eachhaving horizontal top and bottom walls 1b-16,` vertical side walls 17-17 and a transverse end wall 18, the whole functioning as a follower in conjunction with the corresponding stop lugs. At the rend of each casing adjacent the transverse wall 18 the side walls 17 are provided with `interior opposed wedge` faces 1.9-1.9.4 Each of the end walls 18 has an inwardly projecting hollow boss 2O thereon for a purpose hereinafter described. The central friction post B is in the `form of an elongated tubular member having a pair of opposed curved friction surfacesll at each end thereof. Each of the surfaces21 is of true cylindrical form and the frictionsurface at each end of the column diverges slightly outwardly of the mechanism, as most clearly shown in Figure 1. The top and bot-tom '4 sides of the column are flattened as indicated at 22, to provide faces which co-operate i with the corresponding top and bottom walls y16of the front and rear casings.

As clearly shown in Figure 1, the column B is of such a length that the opposite ends thereof are spaced an appreciable distance from the corresponding end walls 18 of thefollower casings when the parts are in normal full released position. As also shown in Figure 1 1, the inner ends of the follower oasings are spaced apart a predetermined distance when the parts are in normal position, so that the? 4inner ends of the casing will abut when the mechanism is fully compressed, thereby constituting two solid columns through which the forces aretransmitted to the corresponding stop lugs.

The friction shoes, which are four in number, are of similar construction, the same being larranged in pairs, one pair 4cop-operating with the friction surfaces 2]. at the front end of the column and the other pair cooperating with the corresponding friction surfaces at the rear end of the column. Each of the shoes C is in the form of arelatively heavy block` having a wedge face 119 at the outer end thereof correspondingly inclined to one of the wedge faces v19 of the Correspending follower casing and adapted to cooperate therewith. On the inner side each ico shoe is `proif'ided with a cylindricalfriction` surface 121 adapted to co-operate with the correspomling Surface Q1 of the column B. As moet' clearly lqhown in Figure 1, a slight; clearance is provided between the outer side oi cach `friction shoe C and the corresponding side wall 1T of each eaaing so that the shoe may have slight lateral outward movement during the compression ot the mecha niem.

The tandem arranged spring reeistance elements. each of which comprises a relatively heavy outer coil and a relatively lighter inner coil. are disposed within the hollow friction colmnn B. The outer and inner coils of :ach Spring resitance elen'ient. l ear at the outer end respectively on the end wall 1S ol the` corresponding casing and the inner end ol" the boss Q0. The inner ends of the two coils ot' each elementv bear on a spring follower plate G.

'lhe spring compressing bars E. which are tour in number. are ot' like conatrnction. each being in the i'orm of a generally U-Shaped member aS nto t clearly shown in Figure 5, having arm 2, projecting` at right angles to the. main body portion Q4 thereof. The four epi-ing compressor barsV are ar 'anged in pairs cooperating respectively with the two spring tollower plates (lr engaging the front and rear elements ot the tandem arranged springs.' and thc tiller blocks D. The coinpressor bars ot each pai are alternated with the bars; of the .remaining pair as moat clearly ehown in Figures 1 and 3. The central friction column is provided with four longitudinally t'lie'posed slate 25 in each side wall thereof`r the slots accommodating the plates. E lor tree Sliding movement. AS moet clearly shown in Figure 1, the opposite ends of the plates project beyond the corresponding .aides of the central column and the arms 23 olt one pair extend fomwardly`r while the arme` 23 ot the outer pair extend rearwa rdly. As most clearly shown in Figure 5. the uppe and lower ends of the main body portionfl; of the Spring conlpressing baro E are cut away as shown at 26. the eut` away portions cm'rcspont'ling in depth to slightly clear the .eide valle ot the column, thereby iin-oviding eullicient clea 'ance to assure the i'ull maxinnnn movement of the parts with ont danger of the inner endo ol the compreesor bars coming into contact with the tiller blocks DMD.

The lillcr bloclox D which are tour in number. are all of like construction. The same are arranged in pairs at the front and rar enda of the mechanism. one pair being interposed between tho shoes (l at the `iront end of the mechanism and the outer ends of the torwardly projecting arma E2?) ot the one pair ol.E Spring compressor bars, and the other pair of filler blocks. being interposed between the t'riction Shoes associated with the rear follower and the arma '23 of the remaining pair of compressing bare. Each filler block is provided with a curved inner surface 2T adapted to slide freely on the corresponding surface 21 ot' the friction column. .Xt the upper and lower aides. cach filler block is provided with laterally. outwardly projecting flanges QS. the outer edges ol the tlangea being slightly paced from the inner Surface of the adjacent .-idc wall l? ot' the cm'reslionding l'ollowcr to compeneate for the taper of tht` central poet'. 'l`hc llaiigcr. 28 co-operatc with the side wall.` of the tollower castings to maintain the liller blocks in properly assembled position. Kt the inner end each blot-lc provided with a llat l'acc Qt) adapted to co-opcrate with the outer ends ot the arma 23 of the corresponding bar1-l l". Each block D also haav a flange il at the inner end thcreo'l' ovcrhanging thc armay Q. the iiangcs Btl of thc oppoecd blocks oi' each pai' acting in conjunction to maintain the correepondino pair ot bar IC centi-rrd. also l'neventing lateral movement thcrco'l'.

The mechanism ie, held in a.--:-cmblcd relation and under initial compre.--:-'ion by the. re tailler bolt ll having it:-- oppoaite ends anchored to the boreee 'tl ol`y the liront and rear tollowcr caeings and extending throitgh the coils ol the Vfront and rca' Springsv and alined opening in the follower plates (i.

Aa moet clearly shown in lt`igure l, the parte' are izo proportioned and arranged that the outer end. oi thc kfriction wedge hoes are elightly apaced trooi the corri-:monding end Valls 18 of the front and rear follower casings in the normal t'ull releaecd poeition ot the parteA .so that thtl :amc may have a limited amount ol outward movement to compensate l'or wear ol the variou 4 friction and wedge t1itact,:-

The operation ott my imln'ovcd hoch absorbing mechanism i:-' as t'ollow.-. a.--uming a boiling movement ot' the l'ront l'olltiwer :a ing 'lhe trout l'ollowcr casingf ""-`ill be moved rzarwardly toward the rear eae'ing. setting up a wedgina' action between hc wedge faces ol the lront shoes and turing, forcing the shoe# into l'rictional engagement with the cent al colunm. thc t'i'ont follower `aeing and ahoe more inwardly. the. front pair of filler blot-loi and the compterA `Qing bars cooiierating therewith will bc carried inwardly alf-tp comprcifsing the rear coils of the tandem arranged .prings bcttween the rear spring follower (i and thc rear casing A. During the described movement ot the 'troni tollowcr caeing thtI front set of coila of the tandem Springer will also bc coni]oe: fel between the l'ront wall 1S o't` Said casing and tlic front apring follower (l. the comprese-ring lorce being transmitted through the corrcaponding pair ot compresor bars and the interposed filler blocks D to the rear pair ot 'friction wedge shoes. A wedging action will thus also be ltlll lith set u between the rear follower casino` A and t e shoes, forcing the latter against the corresponding friction surfaces of the column B. It will be evident that the forces tending to move the column rearwardly with the front pair of friction shoes will be substantially balanced bythe forces acting to retard rearward movement of the column, due to the frictional resistance offered by the rear pair of friction shoes, and the end walls 18 of the front and rear followers will be approached by the front and rear ends of the column at substantially the same rate. .Due to the tapering arrangement of the friction surfaces of the central column; a differential action will be had; the friction shoes C slipping on the corresponding wedge faces of the followers. The slices G associated. with the front follower will thus move rearwardly at a faster rate than said follower7V and the rear set of slices will move forwardly with reference to the rear follower. The compressing action will continue until relative movementof the follower casings is limited by the inner ends thereof coming into abutment, the two casings tliereafter acting as a solid column to transmit the forces `directly to the corresponding stop lugs, thereby preventing the springs from being driven solid.

During draft; the action is substantially the reverse of that just described, the rear follower being moved toward the front follower which is held stationary by the front stop lugs. lVhen the actuating pressure removed. the expansive action of the tandem arranged springs will restore all of the' parts to normal position, the central column being properly centered by the shoes C cooperating with the tapered opposite ends of the column.

W hile I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invention7 the same is merely illustrative and I contemplate all changes and modifications thatcome Within the scope of the Iclaims appended hereto.

I claim:

l. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism; the combination with a pair of relatively movable followers; of tandem arranged springs co-acting with said followers; and a friction wedge system interpoi'sed between said followers7 said .en tem including a central friction member; friction wedge shoes between which said central friction member is disposed; and wedge means movable with the respective followers and co-operating with said shoes.

2. In a friction shock absorbing` mechanism; the combination with a pair of relatively inovable follower' shells having` interior wedge faces; of tandem arranged springs '3o-acting with said follower shells; a friction element; a plurality of friction shoes cri-operating withy said element, said shoes also co-operating with the wedge-faces of said followers and having their movement resisted by said tandem arranged springs.

3, In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a pair of relatively movable followers having wedge means associated therewith; of a hollow friction column interposed between said followers; friction shoes atfthe opposite ends of said column cooperating with said wedge means; and tandem arranged springs within said column, eachof said springs cooperating with one of said followers and with the shoes associa-ted with the other follower.`

Ll. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a central friction column; of a wedge friction system cooperating with each end of said column; tandem arranged springs cooperating with said friction systems; and front and rear followers cooperatingl with said tandem springs; each of said followers having wedge pressure transmitting means associated therewith adapted to cooperate with the correspending wedge friction system.

5. In friction shock absorbing mechanisnnthe combination with a pair of relatively movablefollower shells; of tandem arranged springs within said shells; a floatingfriction column; friction shoes between which said column is interposed, said friction shoes having their movement resisted by said springs; and wedge means associated with each of said shells coacting with said friction shoes.

6. In a friction shock absorbing mechanisi'n, the combination with a pair of relatively movable casings7 each having a follower acting abutment wall; each casing also having wedge means thereon; of a central friction column having outwardly converging friction surfaces at the opposite ends thereof; a set of friction shoes cooperatingr with the friction surfaces at each end of the columinsaid shoes having wedge means cooperating with the wedge means of the corresponding casing; and a spring resistance within each casing bearing on the abutment wall thereof and coacting with the set of frictionshoes associated with the other casing. e p

7. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the combination with a hollow friction column; of tandem arranged springs within said column; wedge friction means cooperating with said column, said means being disposed at opposite ends of the mechanism; relatively movable followers cooperating respectively with the tandem springs, eachv follower having wedge means thereon cooperating with one of said wedge'friction means; `and pressure transmitting bars engaged by each wedge friction means; said bars extending into said column and coop- @rating with said tandem arranged springs.

8. In a friction shock absorbing mechanism, the coinbnatioi'i with a hollow friction posta; of friction Wedge meanscnopeiating with said posti; inniabtc wedge pressure transmitting means cooperating with .said` Wedge means for forcingy thc hitter iniifggiA tndinall)v of Said post; pressure transmittingr means cri-operating with said Wedge friction igevsgsfrr JOHN F. OCONNOR. 

